When is the Taurid meteor shower 2026?
The Taurids peak on Nov 5 and Nov 12
Peak Southern Taurids Nov 5, around 18h UT; Northern Taurids Nov 12, around 18h UT. ZHR 5–10 / 5, Moon 12% lit at the peak. From New York, the best window is 9:20 pm–3:40 am on the night of Thursday, November 5–6. Pick your city for its own times.
The Taurids are active now. See tonight's estimate for your city →
Best time to watch
computed for each cityAt 12:20 am the radiant in Taurus is 64° up; the radiant is already up at nightfall. Thin Moon (10% lit) rises 4:00 am. Dark sky 5:50 pm–5:40 am.
| Night | Best time | Meteors per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 3–4 | 9:30 pm–2:30 am | 7 |
| Wed, Nov 4–5 | 9:30 pm–3:20 am | 8 |
| Thu, Nov 5–6 peak | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 9 |
| Fri, Nov 6–7 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 8 |
| Sat, Nov 7–8 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 8 |
| Sun, Nov 8–9 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 8 |
| Mon, Nov 9–10 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 8 |
| Tue, Nov 10–11 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 8 |
| Wed, Nov 11–12 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 8 |
| Thu, Nov 12–13 | 9:10 pm–3:30 am | 8 |
| Fri, Nov 13–14 | 9:10 pm–3:30 am | 7 |
| Sat, Nov 14–15 | 9:10 pm–3:30 am | 6 |
| Sun, Nov 15–16 | 9:30 pm–3:30 am | 6 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
City by city
The best night and window for the Taurids in our biggest cities, local time.
| City | Best night | Best time (local) | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 9 |
| Los Angeles | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:20 pm–3:30 am | 9 |
| Chicago | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:20 pm–3:30 am | 8 |
| Houston | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 10:00 pm–4:00 am | 9 |
| Phoenix | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 10:00 pm–4:00 am | 9 |
| Philadelphia | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:30 pm–3:40 am | 9 |
| Jacksonville | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 10:00 pm–4:00 am | 9 |
| Columbus | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 10:00 pm–4:10 am | 9 |
| Charlotte | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:50 pm–4:00 am | 9 |
| Indianapolis | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 10:10 pm–4:20 am | 9 |
| Seattle | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:30 pm–4:00 am | 8 |
| Denver | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:30 pm–3:40 am | 9 |
| London | Thu 5–6 Nov | 9:20 pm–3:50 am | 8 |
| Birmingham | Thu 5–6 Nov | 9:20 pm–4:00 am | 8 |
| Glasgow | Thu 5–6 Nov | 9:30 pm–4:10 am | 7 |
| Manchester | Thu 5–6 Nov | 9:20 pm–4:00 am | 8 |
| Toronto | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:40 pm–4:00 am | 8 |
| Montréal | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:20 pm–3:40 am | 8 |
| Calgary | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 10:50 pm–5:30 am | 8 |
| Ottawa | Thu, Nov 5–6 | 9:30 pm–3:50 am | 8 |
| Sydney | Thu 5–6 Nov | 11:10 pm–4:00 am | 6 |
| Melbourne | Thu 5–6 Nov | 11:30 pm–4:20 am | 5 |
| Brisbane | Thu 5–6 Nov | 9:50 pm–3:00 am | 7 |
| Perth | Thu 5–6 Nov | 10:30 pm–3:20 am | 6 |
| Dublin | Thu 5–6 Nov | 9:40 pm–4:20 am | 8 |
| Auckland | Thu 5–6 Nov | 11:30 pm–4:20 am | 6 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
About the Taurids
The Taurids are two broad streams (South and North) from comet Encke's debris, active for about two months. Rates are low, five to ten an hour at best, but the meteors are slow (27–29 km/s) and a good share are bright: they are the reason late October and early November are known for fireballs. In some years Earth passes through a denser swarm of larger particles and fireball counts rise; the IMO calendar does not predict one for 2026.
IMO: the Southern Taurids have their main maximum around November 5 (ZHR 5–10) and an earlier one near October 13 (ZHR about 5), and October activity may be somewhat higher than average in 2026. The Northern Taurids peak around November 12 on a broad plateau of about ten days. New Moon on November 9 leaves the time between the two maxima moon-free. Taurids are slow and often bright.
Parent body: comet 2P/Encke. Active Southern Taurids Sep 20–Nov 20; Northern Taurids Oct 20–Dec 10. Radiant in Taurus; both hemispheres.
How to watch
- Get dark. Away from street lights the count can triple.
- Lie back and look about halfway up, toward the darkest part of the sky. You do not need to face the radiant.
- Give it time. Meteors come in clumps; watch for at least 30–60 minutes after your eyes adapt.
- Check the clouds with your local forecast: we do not forecast weather.
Questions
When is the Taurid meteor shower 2026?
The Taurids are active Southern Taurids Sep 20–Nov 20; Northern Taurids Oct 20–Dec 10, with the peak Southern Taurids Nov 5, around 18h UT; Northern Taurids Nov 12, around 18h UT (International Meteor Organization). The best night for you depends on where the peak falls in your local night; the city picker on this page works it out.
What time is best to see the Taurids?
From New York, 9:20 pm–3:40 am on the night of Thursday, November 5–6, when the radiant is 64° up. In general, when the radiant is highest in a dark sky, which for most showers is after midnight.
How many Taurids will I see per hour?
The IMO lists a ZHR of 5–10 / 5: the rate under a perfect sky with the radiant overhead. From a dark site near New York at the best time, expect about 9 an hour; from a town, a third or less. These are estimates: real rates vary.
Will the Moon affect the Taurids?
The Moon is 12% lit at the peak. That is little interference.
Where should I look for the Taurids?
Anywhere: meteors appear all over the sky, they only trace back to the radiant in Taurus. Look about halfway up, away from the Moon and city lights, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.
Other meteor showers
Dates, peak times, ZHR and radiant positions: International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 and 2027 (J. Rendtel, ed.), working list of visual meteor showers. Where the IMO gives no peak time, it is the moment the Sun reaches the listed solar longitude. Darkness, Moon and radiant height computed with Skyfield and JPL DE440. Hourly rates are our estimates from the ZHR and are uncertain; real rates vary from year to year. We do not forecast clouds.